Author: rutakintome

I married Ruth, my high school sweetheart, in 1983 and we have four children and 6 grandchildren. I have been the worship pastor at Mission Bible Church since 2004. We are located in Minooka, a southwest suburb of Chicago. I love singing, bicycling, music, Mahler, boxing, coffee, movies, The Beatles, sunsets, coffee, Mahler, the seashore, sunsets at the seashore, coffee, and… the seashore. Originally from New York, I grew up 15 minutes from the beautiful beaches of southern Long Island. I have a Fujifilm X-T5 that I use to capture the world I see. I also enjoy writing about the images that surface in my mind and heart as I work with the images from my camera. Thanks for stopping by!

late fall ride

A few pics from what probably will be my last motorcycle ride for a while…. (sigh…..) Thanks for stopping by.

in a little corner of my home

a cup of coffee
in a little corner of my home
lights and shadows
remind me of what lies within me
darkness and light
love and hate
goodness and self-centeredness

the memories descend

life and love
family and friends
grace and peace
laughter and song
so many gifts
undeserved and plentiful

soon the wraith
of dim stories arrives
failures
loss
shame
and the quiet ache
of all things left undone
and of all that i have done
to others and to myself

i choose to surrender
to all the images
that so quickly float
through my mind
as i lift my gaze
in a little corner of my home

three crosses
Calvary
such an ugly place
of death
of pain
of sorrow
of suffering

and it is there
in the midst
of the darkness and light
of my life
it is only there
where the lies i tell
and the lies i believe
are exposed

where my shame is undone
in love and acceptance
where i trade my burden
for hope
mercy
love
and the lightness
of forgiveness

and i realize
He is here
with me
in a little corner
of my home

thankful at the shore

We enjoyed a Thanksgiving Day walk at the always beautiful Jones Beach State Park.

let us be still

it’s the beauty and simplicity
that we often miss
the radiance and light
that we just don’t see
the comfort and the healing
that we lay aside

oh let us rest
let us be still
for the greatest of these is love
the greatest of these is love

it’s the glory and presence
that we often ignore
a sunrise
a bird song
a baby’s laughter
the colors of all the leaves
as they fall
grace is always in season

oh let us rest
let us be still
for the greatest of these is love
the greatest of these is love

it’s the bitterness
and anger and rage
that can lead us
to waste our pain
we pursue justice
at the expense of our souls
and become that which
we loath

oh let us rest
let us be still
for the greatest of these is love
the greatest of these is love

God our world is in trouble
but greater still
is my troubled soul
my anxious thoughts
God i need you
to settle this restless heart

help me to see
beauty simplicity
your presence your glory
right here

to laugh like a child
and to sing
your praise
and your renown
with the colors
and the seasons

oh let us rest
let us be still
for the greatest of these is love
the greatest of these is love

lift up your eyes

lift up your eyes
oh weary one
and let His love
clothe the lies
mend the wounds
and sing over you

lift up your eyes
oh sacred soul
you matter more
than anyone knows
let His grace
lift your head
you bear His image
be at peace
be at peace

lift up your eyes
oh shame filled one
and let His presence
surround the sorrow
all the monochrome
guilt and shame
will be restored
in the color
of His deliverance
in the brilliance
of His countenance
in the suffering
of His love

lift up your eyes
be at peace
and rest

be at peace
and rest

hometown beauty

A beautiful Fall morning in my little hometown. Hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

glimpses of fall part 2

Enjoyed time with my colleagues during our annual retreat in Baraboo, Wisconsin. These images were taken at Devil’s Lake State Park. Thanks for stopping by.

glimpses of fall

A few moments that caught my eye as Fall descends in our area.

a fall visit to the wind farm

A beautiful Fall day, a very cool wind farm and way too many images of my motorcycle. Happy Fall everyone! (Well… at least to those in this hemisphere!)

at day’s end

End of day beauty…